Steve Rustad illuminates issues and dissects politics

Old theaters are famously fire traps. Newspaper archives are full of tragic accounts of people trapped in some antiquated movie palace or dance hall as it crumbles in flames around them. Preserving Petaluma's Phoenix Theater is important to lots people who value it is an historical building and/or a hip/modern venue. Legend has it that the mythical Phoenix rose from its own ashes. Let's not find out if Petaluma's Phoenix can do the same.

Stats show that calling while driving rates on the distraction meter somewhere between chauffering 3 cage fighting in the back seat and juggling axes. Turns out that using a hands free set-up doesn't really help that much. So, if you must call while you're in your car, pull completely off the road, turn off the engine, do some deep kneebends, and block your wheels. Better yet, give the phone to whomever is riding shotgun.